"Calypso Dreams" Screening In Florida


Florida International University’s Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC); University of Miami’s Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS); Abeng Arts; and the Consulate General for Trinidad & Tobago
PRESENT...

Wednesday, April 1, 2PM


Music, Resistance, and the Caribbean’s Calypso Legacy-Panel Discussion

Florida International University
Graham Center 140, 11200 S.W. 8th St., Miami 33199

Featuring outtakes of Calypso Dreams, an engaging film directed by Geoffrey Dunn and Michael Horne that captures the human spirit and musical genius of Calypso singers from Trinidad and Tobago. Calypso Dreams provides a cultural rediscovery of a musical tradition that has been bypassed by the mainstream for decades, and celebrates the dynamic social and political roots which sustain the art form. Dr. Geoffrey Dunn will be joined by Lord Superior (Andrew Marcano) and Alvin Daniell in what promises to be a lively panel discussion on the vibrant social and political forum Calypso has provided both historically and in contemporary Trinidad & Tobago. 


Thursday, April 2, 7PM
Calypso Dreams U.S. Premiere

University of Miami Cosford Cinema

1111 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, 33124

With post-screening discussion and reception with the filmmaker, Dr. Geoffrey Dunn, Lord Superior, and Alvin Daniell 
EVENTS ARE FREE!

My girl ,of Abeng Arts and Cultural Management, a staunch supporter and advocate for Caribbean and Indigenous Artforms has bust her butt to put this together. Support her and OUR Music. Checkout her Facebook Profile, and do some research on Calypso Dreams Here.

And so...it begins


Vibrationzz presents for Miami Carnival 2009
Vegas Nights

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Still Put on a Vest with an S on my Chest....



Pregnant Fay Ann Lyons performing Heavy T Bumper with Asylum Band 2009...
This Chick is amazing...Pregnant and rocking the hell out of this performance

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ROOOOOARRR - Meet Super Blue

Press Play to Listen


Any body who knows me...knows that I'm a CALYPSO head...not a Soca head perse..eh? I love the traditional calypso structure. Its what i grew up to...so it always evokes something in me.
Well ..I am In love....Ive found a soca song that makes me Giddy when i hear it. And you know what? I refuse to call it soca. Its a Calypso.....

Fayann Lyons = Meet Super Blue

Fadda Lord...this song makes me want to put on a cape and ruuuuunnnnnnnnnn...

First thing...the intro...
even before the music starts..
that...riddim...THAT RIDDIM....
The woman channelling daddy...
Yes Fay-ann I know..you are your own person..
but that drum line...
that riddim...
is Pure Baptist procession..
..ladies in white heading to the river...
That drum line is call and response at its purest TRINIDADIAN spirit..
I bet the drummer tyad no TAILLL when this song done..
and the song aint start yet

Second...
I know they simulated...yeah..
but HORNS!! People!! HORNS!!
You don't hear that anymore!!!
The days of Roy Cape and Charlies Roots and Byron Lee and Blue Ventures...
where the horn men melodies so intricate if you blink you miss it..
The woman have Horns leading into her song....

THEN..

Verse One..
The structure is call and response...
If that aint Traditional Calypso structure I don't know what is
AND..
Count them..
16 Bars! Its the formula!!
Traditional Calypso. 16 Bars Verse, Bridge [ if you Brave] ..and then Chorus

and what a Bridge!!!!!
First thing..
Its a Minor Key... a Key change always builds excitement in a song anyways....
A build up to the release ..the Explosion in the chorus..
And Miss lady kicks that up a notch and goes MINOR key...
I am already a sucker for a minor key switch..

THEN...

You hear the bravado in the lyrics...????

They Trying to Flop me..
And No they cyan stop me
Long time they wah drop me
So they Underrate Meh

Let the people know..
Tell them I am not my father...
I Bad like him but the truth be told
Like me they will be no other.....

WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY...

I almost wanna sing Santimanitay...

Bragging rights in your BACKSIIIIIDE...
This calling back to the days of the War Calypsos..
when every body was a "Growling" or a "Roaring" ...

ROAAAAAAAAAR Fay Ann


Been Hearing them Lately
She dont act like a Lady
Make no Apology
So who doh like meh could Bite Meh


I looooove it..
and wait...
allyuh the verse and bridge is percussion and horns...[like somebody Daddy]
aint no big music up in there..
percussion and Horns....

I can almost SEEEEEE the Base Man in Despers bussin a wine playing that ..
rhythm and Melody
engine room pushign a whole steelband..

That Bridge is Powerful like a Mac Truck!!
Oh GEEEEEEEEEEEEED I love it.!!

THEENNNNNNNN..

the wicked woman...
The WICKED WOMAN give you a break down...
a little piece to catch your breath...
from running up and down...
a little bounce ...bounce and bounce and bounce...

annd then..
The WICKED ROOAAARING FAYANN....
Jumps BACK into the BRIDGGGGGGGGGGGE!!!

FYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Tell them that a tough Like Iron
When i done with them they bound to know why mi name is Fayann Lyons


Fayann ...I dont know who wrote this.. I hope its you..
You have restored my faith in Calypso....its not dead...its still living in you...
yes you are your father's child..
But you earned my new Name for you

Roaring Fay Ann Lyons

ROOOAARRRRRR!!!

-Disclaimer-

Apologies

I have seriously....SERIOUSLY been negligent with this blog. I apologise. A first time Big post in a Small band is CONSUMING....and It kinda made me focus my energies elsewhere....

But im gonna do both for the new Year....Maybe itll be some insight into the process for us..even if its a timeline...lol..

So..

doh worry..

AH coming!

Vibrationzz 2008 - Message From Band Leader - Kizzy

Hello Vibrationzz crew,

I just want to update you on what's going on with Miami Carnival and Vibrationzz. The Miami Carnival committee has an exciting show planned for October 12, 2008 after all the bands have crossed the stage. The show will feature some of the Caribbeans biggest artists and musicians. Many of you did not know this last year and missed out on a great show.

Vibrationzz is once again looking forward to making sure you have an excellent time on the road, in the park and on the stage. Music will be provided by Rhythm Int'l (NY), Walshy Killa of Black Chiney(Miami), Dawg E. Slaughter of Excalibur Sound (T&T), and as you know or may not know there will be a surprise guest artist.

For all the males in the band I will have the male costumes up by this weekend.

If you have filled out a registration form but have not paid a deposit you are not registered with Vibrationzz. Please make all necessary arrangements to pay for your costume. The balance for your costume is due on September 27, 2008. In order to have distribution run smoothly we prefer if you pay in full prior to picking up your costume. If you have any questions please contact me or any other VBZ representative.

It's exaclty one month away from Carnival....can you feel...the movement!!!!!!

Miami Carnival 2008 - UWI Fete Saturday



The 8th annual all inclusive 'UNIVERSITY FETE' is back under new management. Bigger and Better than it's ever been.

Machel Montano HD, Xtatik, Patrice Roberts, Farmer Nappy, Bunji Garlin and FayAnn Lyons backed up by the Asylum Band, D' Hitman, Rikki Jai, SKHI, Zan, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, and the entire Punkolun Factory live and direct from Trinidad...

Food and Top shelf drinks all included with the price of admission. Special VIP section with 'white glove' table service of steak, seafood, champagne and top shelf drinks served at your table.

This will be the show of all shows, the 'Signature Event' for the Miami/Broward Carnival weekend so 'Don't miss it!'.

Tickets will be available at: http://www.uwifete.com/
Saturday, October 11th, 2008
04:00 PM - 12:00 AM


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Miami Carnival 2008 - Saturday TAO - Fly Girls




Miami Fly Girls and Rango presents
TAO II: The Ultimate Ultra All Inclusive Day Fete
Performances by: Soca Monarch King Bunji Garlin, Shurwayne Winchester and a special surprise guest artist

View TJJ's 2007 Coverage of TAO - East Meets West ... 'The Ultra All Inclusive Day Fete' @ http://www.trinijunglejuice.com/tao_miami_2007/
Saturday, October 11th, 2008
04:00 PM - 11:00 PM


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Wais a Kaiserballl?


My blog name is Kaiserball.blogspot.com
I got an email this weekend asking me what it is..what inspired the name.

It's a combination of two things..

Sparrow wrote a song called Tobago Gal in 1980
Its a sweet song speaking about the visit of an old man to Tobago and why he wouldn't leave.

Woman..

Because it mentions places specific to Tobago...I, a Tobago gal had an instant affinity to the song. On an aside, He also wrote a song called Trinidad woman, so he wasn't biased..

The chorus goes:
"All them Tobago Gyal
Sweet sweet sweet like a Kaiserball
Burroughs you could call or Ring Interpol,
Me ain't going at all
First I love them sweet Tobago Gyal"
In his sweet crooning voice, Sparrow is singing a love song to us misunderstood,stereotyped Bago gals. He singled us out...haha..and I've loved the song ever since.

What is a Kaiserball though?

A Kaiserball  was a hard, rough, home made candy that existed in my parents time. It was pure syrup, sugar and water boiled down, and would take DAYS to eat if your teeth could stand up the saccharine sweet flavor, or you didn't crack a tooth on it in the process. You would find them in glass jars in road side parlors or made by your favorite Aunty and left for you when you came to visit.

You would be hard pressed to find any of those in this day and age. My last memory of having one [if it is in fact a real memory] is on a trip to visit relatives in the country as a little girl with my cousins and having one from the parlor at the bottom of the hill in Good Wood. That was our favorite stop off place. It was owned by Cousin Ralph and we would stop for Sweet drinks..haha Coca Cola in Bottles mind you, and whatever candied sundries the parents would allow us to have at that point.

The parlor for some reason was always open, dark and dusty, and in this day we would probably never step foot in there, but i always loved it and wished i could explore what was under the layers of dust and hodge podge of boxes. We would drive by sometimes without going in..but would shout greetings out the window and most times get a Hail back!

Anyways...when you're pressed for a unique identifier for the blog my brain came up with Kaiserball. Uniquely Trinbagonion, and personally associated to Tobago for me, it was an easy choice. To hear Sparrow's song and see the rest of the lyrics go here. Enjoy!

-Disclaimer-

SOCA D VOTE!! I not preaching or choosing for anbody

But SOCA D VOTE!!

Please check out the website: http://socadvote.com
Politics impacts the life of every citizen regardless of their race, religion, or national origin. Political decisions are made with or without a citizen's participation. As one of the fastest emerging immigrant communities in the United States and around the world, Caribbean-Americans have a choice to be involved and engaged in these important decisions and in the future leadership of the country.

In making your choices for president, congressional races, or your state and local races, you must follow four simple rules in being an engaged SocaDvoter:

* Register to Vote
* Learn About the Candidates and Ballot Measures
* Find Out How and Where to Vote
* Send in Your Absentee Ballot or Go to the Polls and Vote

We promise that you will see immediate results from your collective engagement in your community and in your country. Let's learn together and soca the vote together!

my only commentary is: Those who can..MUST!!! VOTE


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